Hornsby brothel worker fronts court following George St raid
The 45-year-old woman, who recently purchased a home in the prestigious suburb of Wahroonga with her husband and children, was one of four arrested at the George St Brothel on Friday afternoon.
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A 45-year-old mother of two — who recently moved to the prestigious suburb of Wahroonga on Sydney’s upper north shore — has been revealed to be one of four brothel workers arrested over an alleged drug distribution ring operating out of a Hornsby massage parlour.
Min Van Campenhout lives just five minutes away from her George St brothel, which was the subject of a major police operation on Friday, where police allege drugs and cash were found.
Her home in Highlands Ave, Wahroonga, was also raided by police in a simultaneous operation, which witnesses say “lasted all through the night”.
Ms Van Campenhout has been behind bars since Friday after police raided her brothel, Hornsby 142, which says on its website is the “best brothel, adult service, erotic massage”.
The 45-year-old woman purchased the eight-year-old property in March, 2017, for $2.25 million, moving from the nearby suburb of Warrawee with her husband and two children.
The accused drug distributor and Hornsby brothel worker did not appeared in Hornsby Local Court during proceedings on Tuesday, following four charges relating to an alleged drug dealing ring running out of the George St massage parlour.
Ms Van Campenhout’s lawyer fronted Magistrate Williams on Tuesday morning, who dealt with the four charges including participating in a criminal group, allowing the use of the building as a drug premises and possessing a restricted substance.
Ms Van Campenhout, who court documents revealed to be the owner occupier of the brothel Hornsby 142, was allegedly found with the restricted prescription erectile dysfunction drug, Sildenafil, during a major police operation conducted following a six-month investigation by Strike Force Kilday on Friday, September 13.
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Witnesses to the raid at Ms Van Campenhout’s home, who did not wish to be named, said police broke down the 45-year-old woman’s door at midday on Friday, September 13.
“Riot police broke down the door after yelling that they had a warrant to search the building,” a neighbour said.
“The family have always kept to themselves, we haven’t spoken to them in the two years that they have lived here.”
The neighbour said he was shocked to see police swarm the home.
“This is a quiet neighbourhood filled with families,” He said.
“You would never expect something like that to happen here.”
On Friday, The Hornsby Advocate revealed a large-scale police operation was conducted at George St, Hornsby at 12pm.
Strike Force Police allegedly seized cash, methylamphetamine, heroin and cannabis in the operation, with drug paraphernalia allegedly uncovered in several rooms.
A NSW Police spokeswoman revealed exclusively to the Advocate police will allege that a sophisticated drug distribution network operated out of the brothel, where sex workers were used to sell prohibited substances.
A 28-year-old Strathfield man was also charged with four counts of supply prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity), participate in a criminal group, possess prohibited drug, and be found on drug premises and will appear at Hornsby Local Court on Wednesday, September 18. He will appear alongside a 49-year-old woman from Cromer and a 34-year-old woman from Hornsby who were charged with supply prohibited drug and be found on drug premises.
Ms Van Campenhout did not apply for bail and will return to Hornsby Local Court on September 25 for bail application.